At TampTamp, the most valuable piece of information we give away is a simple one: 9 times out of 10, the biggest issue effecting workflow and customer wait times is grinder placement. So nearly every time we walk into a cafe, we say “Move your grinder!”
Generally, an espresso bar is set up to make best use of space, or the grinder is on the same side it was when being trained because it’s most comfortable there. However, it is often the wrong place. Moving the grinder helps with flow by making the drinks move in only one direction. Place the grinder on the opposite side from where the drink pickup location is and it will speed up efficiency by an order of magnitude.
Many times in this sort of situation, the espresso preparation area and the milk area are on the same side of the machine, forcing one barista to be responsible for the entire drink preparation. Moving the grinder can separate the two operations, allowing two baristas to work together, reducing drink preparation times by half and improving quality by allowing each barista to focus on only one action at a time.
But what about the sink? Many times the grinder is on the opposite side of the sink to keep the espresso grounds seperate from the water. This becomes a problem, however, when the sink is on the opposite side of the drink pickup area. If you are willing or able, move the entire espresso machine to the other side of the sink, or the drink pickup area, and it will fix your issue. If you are willing to invest in a little plumbing, move the sink to create the same solution.
The other solution for workflow issues is the pitcher rinser. This nifty little doo-dad uses a spray inside an empty knockbox to clean your pitchers quickly and with little water waste. Place this in the milk preparation area when a sink is not otherwise accessible and the barista can rinse his/her pitchers quickly and be immediately ready to move on the the next order.
Once you’ve moved your grinder, you’ll be amazed at how efficient your movements become. Your lines of drinks will become manageable and you’ll increase the amount of valuable face-time you have with your regulars. Soon enough you’ll want to add that second person to help out on bar during your busy times – and that topic is for a future day.
Good luck, and trust us – move your grinder!